From The Advancement Office

by Liz Ruffa, Director of Institutional Advancement

Though it has been very quiet at the Visitor Center this spring, Merck Forest’s team has steadfastly been working to advance our mission. How does an educational institution rooted in connecting people with nature and aligned with environmental stewardship keep its mission relevant during a global pandemic?

Here’s what we’ve accomplished since March:

• pivoted to offer online learning modules to our educational and online communities

• offered “virtual” programming to introduce our farm animals to a large online audience

• designed new entrance and welcome signage, kiosks to be constructed this summer!

• safely and seamlessly produced over 1,400 gallons of organic maple syrup

• processed and delivered over 60 cords of firewood for buildings, cabins and VC use

• continued to recruit new members and donors and stay relevant in our region

• encouraged use of MFFC trails within the context of state COVID regulations

• worked hard to welcome program attendees and campers back onto the property

These tasks and efforts summoned our collective curiosity, love and responsibility - to the institution that we are proud to work at as well as to working and natural lands education and management.

I’d like to thank MFFC’s Advancement CommitteeMerrill Bent, Austin Chinn, Ann Jackson, George Hatch, Bob McCafferty and Rob Terry - for their commitment to strategy and innovation during challenging times. Philanthropic efforts are, in large part, rooted in spirit and generosity and this team embodies these values to a T.

I’d also like to welcome Dinah Buechner-Vischer to the Board of Directors and to thank her for interviewing her mother Judy Buechner and her aunt Bambi Hatch, daughters of MFFC founder George W. Merck, before this property became Merck Forest and Farmland Center. We plan to honor and celebrate MFFC’s past, present and future in the next issue of the Ridgeline. Do you have a special memory or story about Merck Forest? Please reach out! liz@merckforest.org.

Have a wonderful summer, be well, stay safe and enjoy the great outdoors - here if you can - or wherever you hang your hat. Nature is always open…and has so much to teach us all.

Summer Advancement Goals

Philanthropy - the act of giving - has never been more in play. There is systemic, structural need across communities and sectors - in Vermont and elsewhere- and with it, opportunities for collective action. Let’s all do our part. As you continue to adjust to the “new normal”, feel free to partner with us as we deliver our mission in new ways. In the coming months, MFFC will continue to undertake ongoing trail & visitor experience enhancements, strategize as how to best support nature-based learning for K-12 students and continue to assist in COVID-19 community resilience initiatives.

Any financial support for these initiatives is welcome. Please contact liz@merckforest.org or rob@merckforest.org for more information.

Save The Date

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Second Annual Twilight on the Mountain

Frank Hatch Sap House, Merck Forest & Farmland Center

Celebrating 70 Years of Connecting People and Nature

For Sponsorship information, contact liz@merckforest.org

Twilight On The Mountain

Membership at MFFC has never mattered more!

Our members help keep the gate open, the trails clear and our animals cared for. Memberships at Merck Forest provide the essential “glue” that allows us to operate safely and effectively. Thank you for your support! Help us grow our membership base by sharing your enthusiasm for the institution with others. Ideas? Contact liz@merckforest.org